The Freedom From Religion Foundation is raising a red flag over the resurgence of a bible study group featuring senior U.S. officials, including members of President Trump’s cabinet.
Capitol Ministries, led by Christian nationalist pastor Ralph Drollinger, relaunched its cabinet-level bible study in March. The group holds weekly sessions with members of Congress, senators and high-ranking Trump administration officials, pushing a rigid theocratic worldview under the guise of spiritual guidance. Despite claiming nonpartisanship, the studies aggressively promote far-right policy positions — on immigration, abortion, environmental regulation, criminal justice and more — framed as biblical mandates. FFRF condemns these sessions, which take place inside the halls of government, as an attempt to erode the wall between state and church.
Drollinger’s teachings are clear. He believes elections are “first and foremost a spiritual battle,” that LGBTQ-plus rights are incompatible with Christianity, and that Christian leaders who support marriage equality are “Satan’s pawns.” He has even cited Scripture to justify the Trump administration’s family separation policy. Capitol Ministries exists for one purpose: to influence public policy through fundamentalist religion.
Sponsors of the revived cabinet study include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, both of whom have used their official positions to invite fellow cabinet members to participate. Drollinger also leads separate weekly sessions for members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, respectively.
FFRF has previously uncovered documents showing that senior Trump officials used government time and resources to organize these bible studies, including a major event hosted at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. In 2023, Drollinger expanded the program to include weekly Zoom-based bible studies with sitting and former governors.
“This isn’t a private devotional group. It’s a publicly connected, politically motivated ministry trying to shape U.S. law to match Drollinger’s theocratic vision,” says FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “When cabinet officials participate, it’s not about faith. It’s about advancing a sectarian, partisan crusade.”
The Constitution prohibits public officials from using their office to advance their personal religious beliefs. When bible studies organized and promoted by high-level officials promote specific political outcomes, they cross a bright constitutional line. FFRF warns that such programs marginalize nonbelievers, religious minorities and anyone who does not share Drollinger’s extremist ideology.
“It’s deeply troubling that someone with Drollinger’s views has unfettered access to the highest levels of government,” Barker adds. “These bible sessions directly influence policies affecting reproductive freedom, LGBTQ-plus rights, science education and environmental protections.”
FFRF urges cabinet members and elected officials to cut ties with Drollinger and disassociate from Capitol Ministries. It will continue closely monitoring these bible study meetings and take any available action to curtail this group’s improper influence on U.S. government policy.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With more than 42,000 members, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights across the globe. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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